SOC 19-2099 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations

Physical Scientists, All Other wages by metro

National median annual wage

$122,570

10th percentile: $67,000
25th percentile: $86,620
Median: $122,570
75th percentile: $161,890
90th percentile: $195,190
Mean: $129,230

Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.

National employment in May 2025: 22,300.

That median is 140.4% higher than the all-occupations national median of $50,980.

The metro and state figures below are the same May 2025 release. A blank wage means BLS did not publish it. See when a wage is not published.

Farmworkers picking asparagus in a field in Baja California — Asparagus pickers in the Maneadero valley, Baja California. Photograph by Tomas Castelazo. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Highest published medians

Metros with the highest published annual medians for Physical Scientists, All Other.
Occupation	Employment	10th	Median	90th
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	70	$95,870	$180,470	$180,470
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	410	$78,550	$176,440	$245,090
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	2,740	$95,870	$170,980	$263,580
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	340	$91,150	$160,580	$323,840
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	80	$113,240	$157,710	$195,190
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	40	$103,380	$149,550	$190,420
Charlottesville, VA	100	$98,520	$144,580	$185,950
Huntsville, AL	70	$100,190	$142,650	$259,760
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	120	$96,600	$142,080	$181,040
Boulder, CO	Not available	$97,200	$141,320	$195,190
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	420	$82,430	$140,980	$275,520
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	860	$76,150	$139,560	$190,780
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	930	$86,790	$137,680	$174,730
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	60	$104,100	$137,340	$201,880
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	310	$81,470	$137,220	$280,570
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	350	$74,590	$137,050	$201,090
Knoxville, TN	60	$73,920	$136,990	$196,120
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	820	$79,280	$136,160	$238,310
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	310	$99,720	$134,720	$208,220
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	700	$73,320	$133,590	$280,920

Where employment is largest

Metros with the most Physical Scientists, All Other jobs in the May 2025 tables.
Occupation	Employment	10th	Median	90th
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	2,740	$95,870	$170,980	$263,580
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	930	$86,790	$137,680	$174,730
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	860	$76,150	$139,560	$190,780
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	820	$79,280	$136,160	$238,310
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	780	$64,990	$99,460	$144,960
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	700	$73,320	$133,590	$280,920
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	570	$78,130	$108,160	$185,450
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	560	$41,540	$67,000	$105,510
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	550	$49,230	$91,430	$157,980
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	430	$68,310	$121,720	$170,710
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	420	$82,430	$140,980	$275,520
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	410	$78,550	$176,440	$245,090
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	370	$82,350	$128,380	$183,540
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	350	$74,590	$137,050	$201,090
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	340	$91,150	$160,580	$323,840
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	310	$81,470	$137,220	$280,570
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	310	$99,720	$134,720	$208,220
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	310	$65,670	$117,640	$193,250
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	260	$58,050	$93,440	$169,750
Lexington-Fayette, KY	210	$41,370	$67,610	$108,410

States and territories

State estimates for Physical Scientists, All Other, May 2025.
Occupation	Employment	10th	Median	90th
District of Columbia	790	$101,400	$156,730	$195,190
Minnesota	540	$64,980	$147,890	$223,980
North Dakota	70	$82,840	$147,650	$149,650
Maryland	1,810	$76,820	$141,290	$195,190
South Carolina	70	$88,610	$141,130	$187,740
Massachusetts	350	$74,590	$138,380	$195,770
Georgia	1,020	$86,790	$137,680	$174,730
Alabama	140	$97,470	$135,350	$206,060
Pennsylvania	460	$76,440	$134,780	$195,190
Colorado	710	$82,760	$134,440	$225,810
Washington	450	$94,540	$133,980	$195,190
Florida	340	$88,610	$131,690	$263,640
California	2,320	$81,360	$130,610	$211,150
Tennessee	120	$46,680	$129,570	$241,340
Arizona	170	$88,610	$125,270	$165,400
New Mexico	240	$77,230	$123,820	$192,480
Alaska	140	$83,600	$120,240	$171,850
Michigan	130	$81,540	$118,870	$164,380
New York	1,510	$67,220	$117,820	$175,690
Utah	250	$64,390	$115,920	$149,430
Hawaii	100	$69,600	$112,880	$169,000
New Hampshire	210	$66,850	$112,370	$195,190
Oklahoma	80	$84,220	$112,260	$161,890
North Carolina	650	$62,320	$110,030	$169,040
New Jersey	590	$57,630	$109,990	$182,920
Oregon	290	$72,830	$109,580	$147,600
Illinois	580	$53,140	$108,970	$169,480
Mississippi	380	$61,110	$108,890	$153,570
Ohio	430	$63,460	$108,790	$174,640
Nebraska	40	$74,670	$101,440	$138,360
Texas	2,310	$59,170	$100,920	$180,460
Connecticut	370	$80,080	$99,990	$278,160
Wisconsin	70	$63,130	$97,470	$161,890
Puerto Rico	70	$41,530	$97,150	$136,990
Montana	100	$52,790	$94,520	$122,930
Louisiana	280	$68,930	$94,320	$161,890
Kentucky	260	$41,370	$81,260	$108,410
Iowa	100	$61,110	$80,810	$177,200
Wyoming	60	$63,130	$69,240	$105,370
Indiana	1,240	$52,600	$68,670	$105,510
Rhode Island	70	Not available	Not available	Not available
Virginia	1,450	Not available	Not available	Not available

Other life, physical, and social science occupations

Questions this page answers

What is the national median wage for Physical Scientists, All Other?

In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, the national median annual wage for Physical Scientists, All Other is $122,570. Employment is 22,300.

How does Physical Scientists, All Other pay compare with all occupations?

The national median for Physical Scientists, All Other is 140.4% higher than the all-occupations median of $50,980.

Which metro has the highest published median for Physical Scientists, All Other?

Among metros with a published annual median in the May 2025 tables, Providence-Warwick, RI-MA is highest on this page's list at $180,470.